Izumo-yaki Rakuzan-gama Small Tea Bowl

This is a divided small tea bowl (for outdoor tea ceremonies) from Izumo-yaki Rakuzan-gama, famous as an official kiln of the Matsue domain.

The Izumo-yaki Rakuzan-gama was founded in 1677 (Enpo 5) when Matsudaira Tsunataka, the lord of the Matsue domain, invited the potter Gobei Kurasaki from Hagi. After a period of discontinuation, it was revived in 1801 (Kyowa 1) by Matsudaira Fumai, a famous tea master daimyo. Since then, the Nagaoka family has continued the tradition through generations, and currently, the twelfth generation, Juemon Kuukyo Nagaoka, continues to preserve its legacy.

Rakuzan-yaki is characterized by traditional tea ceremony pottery techniques such as Koryo-utsushi, Irabo-utsushi, and hakeme. Its warm, golden yellow glaze and rustic, powerful clay body have been highly praised by tea masters. The kiln primarily produces tea utensils such as tea bowls, water jars, and flower vases, conveying the "Fumai-onomi" aesthetic, which has continued since the Edo period.

At the workshop in Nishikawatsu-cho, Matsue City, a large climbing kiln, which is still in operation, remains. The flames and ash of the kiln, which is fired for about a week, create accidental scenery on the vessels. The diverse colors and natural glaze expressions created by this climbing kiln firing are the unique charm of Rakuzan-yaki.